Archive for April, 2010

A warm front moved through the Hampton Roads region overnight and as a result, our winds our now out of the SW bringing warmer, more humid air into our region. Although there was some rain overnight, it really didn’t amount to much in my neighborhood. Only a couple of tenths of an inch are in my rain gauge this morning. But, that doesn’t surprise me given the pattern. There may be a thunderstorm later on this afternoon, but I don’t think that it will be a widespread event. Of course, you should monitor local media and watch the skies as severe weather is possible with any storm that should develop. The large low pressure system centered now over IL will be a slow mover so we will have the chance of a shower for the next few days. I don’t think that we will see much rain from this system, especially since drier air will be circulating around this low into our region on Monday. By mid-week the low will have moved away and we should enter into a dry regime for a while. I would have liked to see my neighborhood get a decent soaking with all of the plants and trees now in bloom. (And, of course, I just planted some new plants and shrubs). It always gets me frustrated when we have copious amounts of rainfall during the late summer, fall, and winter only to have to the pattern change to a drier one just when the spring comes along. But, that’s mother nature and there’s not a thing we can do about it. As I said in yesterday’s post, April is not normally a very wet month here in the Southern Mid-Atlantic States. Once the more humid and sometimes tropical air starts to become part of our everyday weather, rainfall will increase as it normally does during the summer. Remember, July and August are our wettest months of the year. That’s it for now. Have a good day.

Although our weather will be influenced by a large frontal system over the weekend, forecasters aren’t that bullish as to how much rainfall we will see. In weather patterns like this, it is very difficult to forecast exactly where the heavier precipitation will break out. A warm front will be moving through the region on Saturday and although some showers will be around, I really don’t think that we will see a lot of rain on Saturday during the daylight hours. However, as more humid air moves in Saturday night, and some energy causing more lift in the atmosphere moves in, we could see a better chance of showers or even thunderstorms, especially late at night and into Sunday morning. Again, it’s impossible to predict exactly where the heaviest rain will form with a frontal system such as this. So, although we may have unsettlled weather through the weekend, there is no guarantee that any one area of SE VA will see a lot of rainfall. Some sun is possible, especially on Sunday. Many people think that April is a very wet month here in Hampton Roads. It really isn’t. We’re really in between the winter storm season and the upcoming thunderstorm season. The severe weather season across the Mid-West and South has been very quiet this spring but it has picked up over the last few days. Today will be another day where tornadoes are possible across the southern plains states. Severe weather is possible in our region but the risk isn’t really that high. I’ll have an update on Sunday.

As I’m writing this, I am debating whether to turn on my heat. It’s quite chilly this morning and forecasters don’t think that we will break the 60 degree mark today. Sunshine will be abundant so that should make it seem fairly nice today. The air mass will moderate slowly this week, but no real heat waves are in sight. Speaking of chilly weather, some are thinking that the suspended ash from the volcano in Iceland will cause global cooling similar to what happened in 1816. That was known as the year without a summer. Scientists have not yet determined whether the volcano will have any effect on the climate over the next year or so. Back to our weather… Forecasters don’t think that we will see any significant rain over the next few days. By the weekend, though, a weather system may bring us some rain. So, enjoy the cool conditions because we all know that in a about two months, we’ll be dealing with heat and humidity again.

Friday turned out to be a very warm day but a cool down is on its way. A cold front will be moving through the region on Saturday with little fanfare. Only a brief shower or sprinkle seems possible with this frontal passage. Our winds will shift to the north and this will set the stage for a chilly Sunday. Temperatures should slowly moderate next week. With the breezy conditions and lowering humidity levels expected with the frontal passage, the fire danger will increase later today. Be very careful with discarded cigarettes and any other fire source. No major storm systems are expected to affect the Hampton Roads region for quite some time. Have a good day and I’ll have an update on Sunday.

It’s almost like we are being compensated for enduring a stormy, chilly winter season. The weather this weekend is fantastic with blue skies and seasonal temperatures. High pressure is firmly in contol today (Sunday). Eventually, a backdoor cold front will move through the area reinforcing the chilly air, especially along the coast. There may be a shower or two towards mid-week as an upper-level disturbance moves through, but at this time, precipitation chances don’t look all that impressive. April is normally a very active month in the mid-section of the country as far as tornadoes are concerned, but in a pattern like this, it’s just not happening. The only real active weather is occuring along the West Coast. East of the Rockies, precipitation is hard to find. So, enjoy the great spring weather while it lasts.